Joliet approves $20m in contracts for 2026 water main renewal program

Joliet approves $20m in contracts for 2026 water main renewal programThe Illinois municipality has greenlit major construction and engineering agreements to replace 20 miles of aging pipeline as it prepares for a shift to Lake Michigan water.

The City Council approved a $4.57 million engineering contract with Burns & McDonnell for the 2026 Water Main and Lead Service Line Replacement programs.

Construction contracts totaling $15.8 million were awarded to D Construction ($9.3m) and Austin Tyler Construction ($6.5m) for specific water main improvements.

A Public Service Committee representative stated the city plans roughly $66 million in water main replacements this year, covering approximately 20 miles.

The infrastructure push is explicitly tied to the city's 'alternative water project' transition initiated in 2023.

The City of Joliet, Illinois, has advanced its ambitious 2026 Water Main Replacement Program, approving a series of major contracts on February 3 that underscore the city's commitment to renewing its distribution infrastructure ahead of a source water switch. The City Council awarded a $4.57 million professional services agreement to Burns & McDonnell Engineering Company. This contract covers construction-related engineering services for both the 2026 Water Main Replacement Program and the 2026 Lead Water Service Line Replacement Program. The firm is already familiar with the city's infrastructure needs, having supported Joliet's water supply conversion planning and loss reduction strategies. Additionally, Burns & McDonnell brings extensive regional experience to the project, having managed large-scale water main and sewer rehabilitation efforts for the City of Chicago and the Village of Homewood. During the Public Service Committee report, a committee representative provided context on the scale of the work, noting that the engineering fee represents approximately 8% of the total capital scope, which aligns with industry standards. The official stated that the city intends to execute roughly "$66 million worth of water main replacements this year," a capital outlay expected to rehabilitate approximately 20 miles of infrastructure. The representative noted that these efforts are part of the "alternative water project" initiated in 2023, referring to the city's strategic transition to a Lake Michigan water supply. To implement the immediate phases of this program, the council approved two significant construction contracts. D Construction Inc. was awarded a $9.3 million contract for the Larkin (Theodore to Glenwood) Water Main Improvements Project. Additionally, Austin Tyler Construction Inc. secured a $6.58 million contract for the Glenwood and West Acres Water Main Improvements Project. Both contracts were approved following a sealed bidding process. Beyond the distribution system, the council authorized several other utility-related expenditures. These included a $350,000 purchase of water metering equipment from Core & Main LP and specific maintenance investments for the Eastside Wastewater Treatment Plant, such as a $34,044 contract to Xylem Water Solutions USA for emergency pump repairs and a $43,468 purchase of replacement sluice gates from LAI & Associates.